Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week: Cole Farrand

Maryland Athletics

11-1-2013

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Each week during the 2013-14 season a Maryland student-athlete, who has shown excellence on and off the playing field, will be selected as the Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week. This week's Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week is junior Cole Farrand of the Maryland football team.

By: Taylor Smyth - Maryland Media Relations Assistant

Standing in the middle of the defense before every snap, Maryland junior linebacker Cole Farrand is almost the quarterback of the defense, making sure that everybody is aligned correctly and ready to go.

Now in his second year in defensive coordinator Brian Stewart’s scheme, Farrand and the rest of his defensive teammates are no longer thinking, just reacting.

This was evident when Farrand posted a career-high 23 tackles against Clemson, a feat not achieved by former Terps E.J. Henderson, Erin Henderson, D’Qwell Jackson or Joe Vellano, all NFL players.

“When you know what you’re doing, you can do it at 100 miles per hour,” Farrand said. “You’re not worried you’re going to mess up and you don’t think mid-play. It helps you play fast.”

A stalwart of the defense since the beginning of his sophomore season, Farrand leads the Terps with 67 total tackles. Always a team-first player, Farrand believes that the performance of the entire front seven has helped him achieve his numbers.

“Everybody in the box has to work together. We’ve got to play the run and also have to be able to adapt to the pass. You have to have good chemistry, because you’re not meant to make every play. Certain plays you might have to take on a blocker so your friend can make a play. There has to be trust within a defense.”

Farrand takes particular pride in helping his teammates make plays.

“You’re kind of like, I didn’t make that tackle, but I set that dude up pretty well,” Farrand said. “It feels good. You almost feel like you were in on the tackle. You can’t try to make every play all the time.”

With some injuries at his position this year, Farrand has had to partner with a number of teammates in the middle. No matter who’s playing beside him, Farrand trusts that they will all get the job done.

“They’re all great players. We have a phenomenal group of linebackers with all the kids we have in now. They all work hard and always know what to do.”

With his feel for the game and ability to make plays, there’s not doubt that the rest of Maryland’s linebackers learn from Cole Farrand, and the junior’s play will be a key in the Terps quest to make a bowl game this season.